Most of the Protein We Eat Is Burned as Calories

Although you get much protein through your daily diet, the body cannot, unfortunately, digest and use all of it.

A nutritional label may indicate 10 grams of protein in a food, but your body won't assimilate all 10 grams. Most likely you'll assimilate only 10-20% and convert the rest to calories.

Why? Because in order for protein synthesis to take place, all 8 of the essential amino acids must be present. All 8 must be at the cell at the same time; otherwise protein cannot be made.

Protein cannot be stored, so these essential amino acids must either be in place or the body will burn the protein as energy, or store it as fat.

Another factor determining the amount of protein synthesis that takes place is the proportion and ratio of these amino acids. For each creature in the animal kingdom, the proportion and ratio for maximum protein synthesis varies